Last week was to say the least, very busy for all of us back in Kenya as we made preparations and purchases of items for distribution on Friday the 2nd of December. The entire leadership team went round doing the purchases. We included Christabel in the team to help with the girly stuff and David was also present to take pictures. This marked one year of service in the orphan program. We began in December last year with fifteen sponsored children and we are now serving thirty children and counting. Glory to God. This time round we got several photos of the entire process and David is sorting them out and should be sending them soon. I wish you were here to feel the atmosphere on Friday as the blessings were presented to the children. There was ululation, screams, shouts of joy and celebration chants all over the place.
I pray that you get an account of the day from different people because we all felt it somewhat differently so here is my share of the same. While Joseph and I were busy having an interesting discussion on Witchcraft in our society with the guardians, Jack was busy teaching the little children about Jesus whereas Lawrence was busy with the older children discussing how they can be productive during this holiday season. During this time, Agnes and Judy together with one of our guardians were busy preparing a meal for everyone comprising of rice, beans, cabbages and chapati (We opted to prepare a meal instead of the usual bread and juice). We also had fruit salad being prepared for the children. The rest were kept busy sorting a myriad of items to be given to the children and as usual David was all over the place making memories of the day.
The monthly distribution this time was almost double their usual ration and it had
• Two litres of cholesterol free cooking oil.
• Two kilos of sugar
• Two kilos of rice
• Ten kilos of maize
• Four kilos of beans
• One kilo washing bar soap
• Two bars of disinfectant bathing soap
• Tea leaves
• A box of matchboxes
• Two kilos of cooking salt
• Four kilos of wheat flour
• Two kilos of baking flour
• One kilo of millet for preparing porridge
• Petroleum jelly
• Toothpaste and tooth brushes
• Four rolls of tissue paper
• Sanitary pads for the older girls
In addition to these Fredrick, Frida, Yvonne and Asman received 1 litre of Aloe Vera juice each and a 2kg pack of Amaranth to mix with millet flour when preparing porridge. This was just a start as the best was yet to come. Look at this added list of what everyone got and imagine the reaction of the guardians and children when they saw these items.
1. A pair of genuine leather black school shoes
2. A pair of canvas shoes for games
3. A pair of slippers and sandals for the younger children
4. School bags
5. Three pairs of socks
6. Three pairs of underclothing
7. An umbrella
8. Skipping ropes and teddy bears and dolls for the girls and toy cars, flutes and balls for the boys
9. Three handkerchiefs
10. A nail cutter
11. Suits for boys and dresses for the girls
12. Another set of clothes for both boys and girls
13. Belts
14. Marbles
15. A blanket for Chrispinus
16. Towels
17. Children Bibles and Bible story books for a number of children
18. Jane received a big suitcase for keeping her personal items
19. Combs and mirrors
20. Shoe polish and shoe brush
As you can see, this requires a lot of work and effort. We spent most of the day sorting the items , then there was fitting and checking sizes and finally distributing the items while taking snaps. It rained heavily and we finished late in the evening. We had not told the guardians what was in store and took the children aside, dressed them, then introduced them to the guardians. You could not help but smile at the facial expressions of shock and disbelief in their eyes. All the children looked transformed and were very happy and excited at the things they were getting. At this point, the camera was dead on battery power so some shots had to be taken using camera phones
Obviously not all clothes and shoes were a perfect fit and so the following day Christabel, Joseph and I went round again exchanging these items for the right sizes. Currently Joseph and I are visiting each and every home getting appreciation videos and better pictures which we will send to you later after we are done. We are also profiling the new girls to be sent to you by Joseph. Oh how I wish I could just send all these images at once as well as the videos. We are also working on a short video that shows how the orphan program works and we pray that it will shed a lot of light to many. Joseph is waiting for me to continue the home visits so I will catch up with you later in the evening. Till then…
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Scroll down for pics of Ed.....here is a Dec 5th report from Lawrence. Praise God!
As we see the rising of the sun and the falling of the same is a great reason to thank the almighty God. He has been faithful. The sponsored children have experienced a season of total transformation in their life this year; God has remembered them in every angle. As we marked the Friday events with great joy, some of the children have a reason to smile because they are getting to study computer. We had this plan as a team and requested the children to begin their lessons this Monday. Personally I begun studying computer when I joined TGD last year, so when I look at the way TGD has expanded until we have more machines to handle even our children as a blessing beyond description and the privilege the children have to explore the computer world an a great opportunity to them.
Dianah, Evangeline, Cythiah, Fridah and Gladys began lessons today. I offered myself to take them through this holiday computer training because this burden to have them learn computers has been in my heart for a long time and its fulfillment is great joy to my heart. We dealt with introduction to computers together. I am using a course book that is suitable for them and with simplified concepts that they can understand. They have shown great interest to learn more. I also introduced Dianah, Evangeline and Cythiah to typing tutor (mavis beacon), I was excited because Dianah begun with a typing speed of 10 words per minute followed by Evangeline who had 8 words per minute and Cynthiah was at 5 words. This encourages me to put in more efforts to give them the best. More will be joining others to go through this computer lessons. The children will be coming 3 or 4 days a week depending on the schedule that we shall lay.
Oscar had also requested me to take his student through Microsoft Publisher. When I finished with our children I began the lesson with the students. I intend to take then through this training until they are well equipped in publisher.
Blessings.
Dianah, Evangeline, Cythiah, Fridah and Gladys began lessons today. I offered myself to take them through this holiday computer training because this burden to have them learn computers has been in my heart for a long time and its fulfillment is great joy to my heart. We dealt with introduction to computers together. I am using a course book that is suitable for them and with simplified concepts that they can understand. They have shown great interest to learn more. I also introduced Dianah, Evangeline and Cythiah to typing tutor (mavis beacon), I was excited because Dianah begun with a typing speed of 10 words per minute followed by Evangeline who had 8 words per minute and Cynthiah was at 5 words. This encourages me to put in more efforts to give them the best. More will be joining others to go through this computer lessons. The children will be coming 3 or 4 days a week depending on the schedule that we shall lay.
Oscar had also requested me to take his student through Microsoft Publisher. When I finished with our children I began the lesson with the students. I intend to take then through this training until they are well equipped in publisher.
Blessings.
Ed brought gifts from Illinois sponsors directly to children! FUN!
Ben is so happy!
Praying with thankfulness
Ed loves the toys, too!
Reading letters from sponsors!
Joseph translating to Grace.
Trophosa life has improved tremendously!
Vivian gets her gifts.
Zainibu looking so pretty in her new dress from sponsor funding! Yeah! AND GIFTS! Giving is such a joy!!!
THANK YOU DONORS!
More Christmas gift photos coming in January!
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Frank, Joseph, Jack and Lawrence prepare for Christmas distribution!
You have given so much to these children and they are getting an excellent CHRISTMAS! There is still time to give for Christmas because the team can purchase gifts and take them to children's homes on visitation days and take pictures of what you have given. For now, with the several gifts given already, You have given a dream day! I authorized all children to be covered because I could not bear to leave anyone out and neither could the Team. How could we tell some child that their gift hasn't come yet? (or that it might not!) So thank you for all you have already given and please continue to open your heart to what the Lord is speaking to you. We REJOICE to deliver your gifts to our needy ones. Isn't it wonderful to get a terrific surprise?! These children are not expecting anything more than what they've been getting AND they are amazed at getting those supplies.
PICTURES ARE COMING
Here is a letter from Jack after their Thursday Dec 1st purchase day:
Just completed the purchases at 9pm and today, we wake up to a great event, a giant distribution. I can't Imagine the joy that will be there. The love being portrayed is immesurable. I know this event is going to capture heavenly attention and those angels on and off duty will attend.
The sacrifice and great love showed by donors to these children teaches us a lot.
Frank has suggested that we preach to the guardians a bout witchcraft. Am not sure whether there will be changes but this is the message that they really need.
Working with the lord is a good thing. Am happy to work under Godly leadership. All my colleagues are just purpose driven, working for Jesus. God bless them.
There will be a lot of activities to take place today and we invite our king of glory to take full control.
There is great joy in my heart as I write to you this night.
I wish I was able to see a great smile on the face of our Lord Jesus as His children fulfill His will.
THANK YOU, JACK!
Now what is this about witchcraft? It is VERY important! We want to teach the children to rely on the Lord rather than the witch doctor. We want to teach them the difference between superstitions and truth. However, they also see very real powers of darkness operating because the devil and demons are real. They are fallen angels and although their time is short, they will do what they can do thwart the work of God. Another fallout from this is that people will not look for causes and effects---they will blame a curse. They will not accept blame, but will say someone cursed them. They will not get tested for AIDS, but will say they aren't sure what that person died from (which we take to mean they died of AIDS) and they won't take measures to avoid the deadly disease. That means men continue to frequent the prostitutes and the women may sleep around as they please---all while children continue to lose their parents and even their own lives to this horror.
Therefore, we as God's people want to dispell the darkness. We preach Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as servants for Jesus' sake. Pray with us that we can turn the tide as it is written, the gates of hell will not prevail against us. We want to storm those gates and pull out the prisoners and set the captives free! We have been given all authority over the enemy and nothing shall in any way harm us.
God knows how deeply I long for these children to know, love and serve Jesus Christ as Lord and to have no other gods before Him. I pray we, too, will be set free from loving or trusting in anything but Jesus! (in Jesus' name!)
It is a very real problem there and I praise God for our team working for their good. If you just think of when you were a child and you thought that if you did such and such, you could make a wish. Or maybe you thought if you broke a mirror, you would have 7 years bad luck. Maybe you worried about stepping on cracks and breaking your mother's back? There are also superstitions about spilling salt, a black cat crossing your path, or your palm itching. See? We aren't so very different at all. Maybe you know of someone who did the 8 ball? Horoscopes? Ouija board? Again, same spirits. God deliver you if you went to a fortune teller or held a seance! Let's get free of lies and live in the truth. And remember that we are all trying to survive and if our child is ill, we will do anything we can to "bargain" with God to get power over that sickness. Have mercy on our Kenyan brothers and sisters and pray God leads them into victory forever. I BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU!
MAY CHRIST ALONE BE EXALTED AS WE CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH!
PICTURES ARE COMING
Here is a letter from Jack after their Thursday Dec 1st purchase day:
Just completed the purchases at 9pm and today, we wake up to a great event, a giant distribution. I can't Imagine the joy that will be there. The love being portrayed is immesurable. I know this event is going to capture heavenly attention and those angels on and off duty will attend.
The sacrifice and great love showed by donors to these children teaches us a lot.
Frank has suggested that we preach to the guardians a bout witchcraft. Am not sure whether there will be changes but this is the message that they really need.
Working with the lord is a good thing. Am happy to work under Godly leadership. All my colleagues are just purpose driven, working for Jesus. God bless them.
There will be a lot of activities to take place today and we invite our king of glory to take full control.
There is great joy in my heart as I write to you this night.
I wish I was able to see a great smile on the face of our Lord Jesus as His children fulfill His will.
THANK YOU, JACK!
Now what is this about witchcraft? It is VERY important! We want to teach the children to rely on the Lord rather than the witch doctor. We want to teach them the difference between superstitions and truth. However, they also see very real powers of darkness operating because the devil and demons are real. They are fallen angels and although their time is short, they will do what they can do thwart the work of God. Another fallout from this is that people will not look for causes and effects---they will blame a curse. They will not accept blame, but will say someone cursed them. They will not get tested for AIDS, but will say they aren't sure what that person died from (which we take to mean they died of AIDS) and they won't take measures to avoid the deadly disease. That means men continue to frequent the prostitutes and the women may sleep around as they please---all while children continue to lose their parents and even their own lives to this horror.
Therefore, we as God's people want to dispell the darkness. We preach Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as servants for Jesus' sake. Pray with us that we can turn the tide as it is written, the gates of hell will not prevail against us. We want to storm those gates and pull out the prisoners and set the captives free! We have been given all authority over the enemy and nothing shall in any way harm us.
God knows how deeply I long for these children to know, love and serve Jesus Christ as Lord and to have no other gods before Him. I pray we, too, will be set free from loving or trusting in anything but Jesus! (in Jesus' name!)
It is a very real problem there and I praise God for our team working for their good. If you just think of when you were a child and you thought that if you did such and such, you could make a wish. Or maybe you thought if you broke a mirror, you would have 7 years bad luck. Maybe you worried about stepping on cracks and breaking your mother's back? There are also superstitions about spilling salt, a black cat crossing your path, or your palm itching. See? We aren't so very different at all. Maybe you know of someone who did the 8 ball? Horoscopes? Ouija board? Again, same spirits. God deliver you if you went to a fortune teller or held a seance! Let's get free of lies and live in the truth. And remember that we are all trying to survive and if our child is ill, we will do anything we can to "bargain" with God to get power over that sickness. Have mercy on our Kenyan brothers and sisters and pray God leads them into victory forever. I BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU!
MAY CHRIST ALONE BE EXALTED AS WE CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH!
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